ACQUISITION OF FOLK HEALING PRACTICES: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY GROUNDING THE EXPERIENCES OF PARASANTIGWAR IN CAGRARAY ISLAND, PHILIPPINES

Abstract

For many years, folk medicine has been the resort of many less privileged families who do not have access to modern health care facilities. A parasantigwar is a term coined to a folk healer in Cagraray island, Philippines, a native version of a doctor trained in traditional manner providing indigenous medicinal help in the locale. This study aimed to ground the lived experiences of these parasantigwar on their acquisition of folk healing skills. Phenomenology approach was conducted by immersion and interview to 8 identified parasantigwar through referral sampling technique. Result revealed that (1) apprenticeship to a folk healer in the family and (2) life setbacks of families were grounds which opted the parasantigwar to resort into traditional healing through cultural transmission and motivation by needs deficiency. This resulted to the parasantigwar’s acquisition of practices through (1) passed knowledge and (2) aggregated learned skill. It was concluded that family plays an important role in the assimilation of the folk healing skill where this immediate environment is responsible for the transmission of the observed culture and development of motivation to suffice needs. Further studies need to be conducted to understand healing practices especially to the surrounding islands showing similarity in origins of folk healing practice.